By News18,Parishmita Saikia

Copyright news18

Numerous stars in Bollywood have captured the hearts of audiences with their very first film, only to later step away from the world of glitz and glamour to pursue an entirely different path. One such actress is Tulip Joshi, whose background is as fascinating as her career.
Tulip Joshi was born on September 11, 1980, in Mumbai to a Gujarati Hindu father and an Armenian-Lebanese Christian mother. As a result, her upbringing was shaped by a blend of two distinct cultures and traditions. Her beauty was often described as ethereal. The moment her debut film hit the screens, she was adored by audiences. Her innocent on-screen presence, radiant smile, and expressive eyes left such an impression that even critics predicted a long and successful career for her.
Tulip Joshi completed her early education at Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai and later earned a degree in Food Science and Chemistry. She had an interest in modelling from a young age, and during her college years, began appearing in various advertisements. In 2000, she took part in the Femina Miss India contest. Though she didn’t make it to the finals, her striking looks and confident demeanour earned her recognition within the modelling industry.
Her true turning point came unexpectedly at a wedding. It happened to be the wedding of filmmaker Aditya Chopra and his first wife, Payal Khanna, who was a close friend of Tulip’s. Her appearance and charm at the event caught Aditya Chopra’s attention, and shortly afterwards, she was invited to audition for Yash Raj Films’ romantic drama Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai. She landed the lead role, and with the film’s release in 2002, Tulip Joshi became an overnight sensation. She starred opposite Uday Chopra and Jimmy Shergill, and the film’s music was a major hit. Audiences were taken by her fresh, innocent charm.
However, she initially struggled with her Hindi, and had to take lessons to improve for the role. Upon entering the industry, Tulip Joshi was advised that her name sounded too foreign, so for a while she went by the name Anjali. However, this change did little to impact her career trajectory.
Following her debut, Tulip Joshi went on to appear in several films, including Dil Maange More, Dhokha, Matrubhoomi, Superstar, Bachchan, Jatt Airways, and Jai Ho. She acted in multiple languages, Hindi, Punjabi, Kannada, Malayalam, and Telugu, demonstrating her versatility.
One of her most acclaimed performances was in the film Matrubhoomi, which tackled serious social issues such as female foeticide and the declining female population in India.
The film presents a harrowing narrative of a village where, due to rampant female infanticide, women have virtually disappeared. In such a scenario, male desperation spirals into violence and dehumanisation.
Tulip portrayed Kalki, a woman purchased by a wealthy man named Ramcharan as a wife for his five sons, only to be sexually exploited by him as well.
The film starkly depicted themes of rape, domestic abuse, and the commodification of women in a deeply unsettling yet thought-provoking manner.
Tulip Joshi’s personal life also attracted public attention. During her time in the film industry, she met Captain Vinod Nair, a former Indian Army officer who served until 1995 before transitioning into business.
What began as a friendship evolved into love. The two lived together for around four years before marrying.
After their marriage, Tulip Joshi stepped away from films and joined her husband in his business ventures.
Captain Nair founded a management and training consultancy called Kimaya, where Tulip Joshi now serves as a director. In addition to her business role, she has also pursued a keen interest in astrology.